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http://dx.doi.org/10.14408/KJEMS.2020.24.1.025

Classification of emergency room usage patterns according to the type of insurance in patients visiting an emergency medical center in Seoul, Korea  

Kim, Moo-Hyun (Korea University Graduate School, Department of Public Health)
An, Hyoung-Gin (Korea University Graduate School, Department of Public Health)
Publication Information
The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services / v.24, no.1, 2020 , pp. 25-36 More about this Journal
Abstract
Purpose: We analyzed the characteristics and differences in patients' medical benefits and health insurance based on disease severity classification. Methods: We examined 29,139 patients who visited the emergency medical center of K Hospital from January 1,2016 to December 31, 2016. Survey items included the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) classification of emergency and non-emergency situations ratio and type of insurance. Results: According to KTAS classification, 76.2% of patients exhibited an emergency condition and 23.8% exhibited a non-emergency condition. Emergency patients exhibited more trauma than non-emergency patients. According to the type of insurance coverage, the duration of stay in the emergency room was longer for patients with medical care than for patients with health insurance. Additionally, 119 ambulances use was significantly higher among patients with medical care. Conclusion: Policy discussions should address alternative ways to replace the 119 ambulances used by patients in this study. Additionally, health care administrators should identify alternative care agencies as potential alternatives to emergency room visits.
Keywords
Korean Triage and Acuity Scale(KTAS); Regional emergency medical center; Insurance status;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 3  (Citation Analysis)
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